Phase 1 of the Flora London Marathon 2009 online entry ballot has now closed

[Sweder]

If you're seriously talking ultra Sweder, I'm not sure I'm in that league yet...

Trust me, any man who can run a marathon in a monkey mask in 20 degree heat in under five hours can run an Ultra. Your time was almost the same as mine in Connemara for the first 26.2 and I didn't have the hinderance of all that facial hair.

I'm with you on the 2012 London thing Dan - there's something very special about running through London in Olympic year. Perhaps I will apply after all (this time would be my fourth consecutive application, sixth over all, without result). I've bequeathed the last four times and considering the quality of the 'bad luck' jacket received last time may do so again.

Brighton looks like a 'must do' too, though I intend to sign up for Connemara again next year, so I'll have to, urm, check the dates carefully this time